It's time for meaningful talk about guns

In the wake of the Connecticut school shootings, lawmakers have rushed out proposals to do everything from clamping down on guns to suggesting we need more guns on school grounds.

That second proposal — to lift the ban on guns on school property — actually came from the House member who chairs a key committee on gun issues.

I say we take a timeout.

To talk. And to listen.

Florida hasn't had a meaningful discussion about guns in years. Instead, we lumber from crisis to crisis, forming toothless task forces after people die and passing bills that address nonissues in the years between.

We can do better.

That's why the Sentinel is going convene a community conversation about guns in a few weeks.

On Jan. 9, we're going to team up with Fox 35 and invite stakeholders with various perspectives — from legislators on both sides of the issue to experts in mental health, law enforcement and more. I'll help moderate.

We're still finalizing the details and panelists. But we want to hear from concerned citizens and parents as well. (Details on confirmed panelists, ticketing, submitting questions and more at orlandosentinel.com/guns.)

Our goal is to have a meaningful, well-rounded discussion — instead of waiting for the next tragedy or controversy to take place.

Plates, votes & hugs

•A license to dull. Is it just me — or is Florida's new license plate just plain lame? The state had a contest to choose the design. Yet the biggest differences among the four look-alike plates were choosing between one or two green stripes and deciding where the orange would go. (Wild and crazy voters put the orange in the "o" in "Florida" and opted for a decadent two green stripes.) More important, though: The alleged goal here was to make the plates easier to read — a valid point I've touted before on behalf of law enforcement. Yet that goal is completely undermined in a state that has more than 100 specialty plates that look completely different. Listen, if folks want to celebrate surfing, tennis, wildflowers, horses or St. Leo University, mazel tov. But isn't that what bumper stickers are for? I'd like my state troopers be able to correctly ID the folks they're trying to catch.

•Voting flip-flop. Gov. Rick Scott went on CNN this week to say he was really distressed about long voting lines and hours-long waits. So, with cameras rolling, Rick called for "bipartisan" solutions and possibly more early-voting days … after signing a wholly partisan bill to reduce the number of early-voting days. It was almost like CNN was short one guest — and just decided to let Rick debate himself.

•Voting flop, part 2. Then there's former Republican state Sen. Mike Bennett — the guy who actually led the charge to shorten early-voting times. Back in 2011, Bennett said he actually wanted to make voting tougher on citizens, saying: "How much more convenient do you want to make it? Do we want to go to their house?" But now Bennett has a new job as … wait for it … elections supervisor in Manatee County. And now he's calling for … wait again … more early-voting days.

I am all for enlightenment. But listening to legitimate concerns in the first place can help prevent you from having to back-track later on.

•Holiday hugs. I've seen so many folks deserving of hugs (not slugs) this holiday season that I've decided to set up a section of my blog where you can join in. I'm kicking it off with hugs to Bank of America and Feeding Children Everywhere; Ford Kiene and Jennifer Quigley; and United Global Outreach in Bithlo. These three efforts provided food and toys for thousands of kids this week alone. Want to know more? Or offer a hug yourself? Join me at orlandosentinel.com/takingnames.